Concrete railway tie



CONCRETE RAILWAY TIE Filed Jan. 18. 1923 5 v 3 4 3 M Even/0n %z7-a 723 /1222? an] [er/a X02331 2 7% W Patented May 27, 1924.

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CONCRETE RAILWAY TIE.

Application filed January 18, 1923. SerialNo. 613, t96.

To all? whom it may co /1.001%:

Be it known that we, MARCO RIGHE'rro and UArLo ZORZI, subjects of the King of Italy, residing at Milan, Italy, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Concrete Railway Ties, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to concrete rail ties and fasteners; and it comprises, briefly, an improvedconstruction embodying a hollow ferro-concrete tie possessing the elasticity and solidity necessary to resist both mechanical and atmospheric forces, and a rail fastener attachable to the tie without the latter being drilled or being cut away or otherwise changed as to its cross-sectional area, thereby avoiding weakening.

According to the invention, the tie is moulded under the action of centrifugal force, which renders the walls thus produced extremely homogeneous and resistant, and which results in the formation of a substantially-cylindrical central bore or opening. The reinforcements embedded in the tie are preferably disposed parallel with the axis of the tie and in correspondence with its exterior contour so that they form a cage or ring which encloses the bore. Finally, the rail plates are fastened to the tie by means of stirrup or U-boltswhich straddle the tie and extend through perforations in the plates, their projecting ends carrying clips for engagement with the rail flanges. Other and further improved features are also involved in the invention, and will be set forth in the description which follows.

The accompanying drawing shows various forms which the invention may take in practice, and therein:

Figure 1 is a side view of one form;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof:

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of a modification;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view showing a single diagonally-arranged stirrup bolt; and

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan View showing the use of pairs of stirrup bolts, such arrangement being preferably adopted at the points where the rails are jointed together.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 indicates the reinforced concrete tie which, as previously explained, is moulded by the action of centrifugal force; such operation. producingan element somewhat in the nature of pipe and having a cylindri cal axial bore 2. Tlietie may have anydesired cross-sectional shape: thus, it isshown in Fig. 2 as having a curved or semi-circular upper part and a rectangular lower part; and in. Fig 3 as triangular, all of the angles or corners being rounded. The internal reinforcements extend parallel "with the axis of the tie and are preferably disposed -in a manner to conform to the cross-sectional shape of the tie, so that they form a longitudinal cage or ring, as will be understood from Figs. 2 and 3.

The rail fastener consists of a stirrup or U-bolt 3, which is arranged to straddle the tie from the under side thereof, so that its arms project upwardly across and beyond the opposite side faces of the tie. The free ends of the bolt arms extend through openings formed in a rail plate 4: and carry clips 5 which are adapted to engage the flanges of the rails 7 and are held in place by nuts 6 threaded on the said arm ends. A cushioning plate or strip 8 of elastic material is preferably interposed between the rail plate 4 and the top face of the tie, and one or more projections 9 may be provided on the tie to engage the adjacent end of the rail plate and thereby hold the latter and the stirrup bolt against sliding movement along the tie.

Ordinarily, a single stirrup bolt only is used with each rail plate 4, and in such case said bolt is arranged diagonally, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Adjacent the points where the joints between successive rails occur, however, it is preferable to use two bolts with each rail plate and to dispose them at opposite sides of the rail and perpendicular to the tie, as illustrated in Fig. 5. In either case, the ends of the bolt arms pass through vertical openings formed in the rail plate, the precise shape of the plate depending upon the cross-sectional shape of the upper part of the tie. Where the latter has a curved or angular top part (Figs. 2 and 8), the under face of the plate is provided with a seat wherein the tie part conformab-ly fits. This seat may, as shown, he formed conjointly by a pair of depending angular shoulders produced by thickening the plate and'disposed in spaced relation to each other.

We claim as our invention: 7

1. The combination, with a concrete tie having a transversely curved upper surface, of a rail plate mounted on said curved surface and having its under face provided with a pair of depending angular shoulders which are spaced apart to conjointly form between them a seat adapted to conformably receive the said curved surface, one or more stirrup bolts for fastening the tie and rail plate together; said bolts having their arms disposed exteriorly of the tie and projecting upwardly through openings in said plate, and clips carried by the ends of said bolt arms for engagement with a rail; substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a concrete tie having a transversely curved upper surface, of a rail plate mounted on said curved surface and having its under face provided rail plate together; said bolts having their arms disposed exteriorly of the tie and projecting upwardly through openings in said plate, and clips carried by the ends of said bolt arms for engagement with a rail; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We afiix our signatures.

MARCO RIGHETTO. CARLO ZORZI. 

